Cape Coral city leaders are grappling with a significant infrastructure challenge.
They are holding a special meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss mobility fees in an effort to close a $1.7 billion infrastructure gap.
Council members have acknowledged that Cape Coral’s growth has not been self-sustaining.
The mobility fee proposal on the table is a long-term plan extending over the next 20 to 25 years.
Without the $1.7 billion, some projects may not be completed.
The mobility fee would be a one-time fee for new developments and major redevelopments.
This fee would depend on the type of project and its location within the city.
The primary objective of these fees is to enhance city roads, sidewalks and bike paths, recover money lost over the years, and ensure developers contribute to community infrastructure and safety.
WINK News spoke with local residents who emphasized the need for more infrastructure in the growing city.
“Sidewalks is another issue for the kids,” said Tim Dean of Cape Coral. “They had a problem over there with no sidewalks, and they’re walking in the street.”
Deb Hykes, also from Cape Coral, shared her perspective.
“I have to walk my dogs on the street, but we’re on a canal down off of Pelican behind the firehouse, so there’s no cars, hardly at all back there. I’m OK with it, but there are a lot of streets that do not have sidewalks,” she said.
James Reynolds expressed concern about the infrastructure keeping pace with population growth.
“I don’t think the infrastructure is keeping up with the population. It doesn’t appear to be,” he said.
A new state law, effective Oct. 1, will limit the city’s ability to raise fees, adding urgency to the council’s decision-making process.
The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers.
WINK News will provide updates on the outcomes of the meeting.